The Tornadoes will have their work cut out for them entering the final stage of the season, with COVID continuing to impact the NBL1 South.
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The conference announced it will extend the season by two weeks after lockdowns in Victoria and South Australia put a pause on the season.
Finals will now be played in the first two weeks of September.
"The season being extended doesn't really impact us at all," Torns coach Sarah Veale.
This weekend, only Victorian teams will play, with the Tornadoes taking a third week off in a row.
The Torns will then play the Waverley Falcons at the Elphin Sports Centre, before a grueling triple-header in Victoria against Knox, the Albury-Wodonga Bandits and Ballarat Rush.
It is what it is and we'll just try and deal with that, but it was very unexpected
- Sarah Veale
"We've got three home games in the lead-up to finals ... our only question mark is that triple-header road trip," Veale said.
"It's exceptionally difficult given the travel time between second-placed Knox, Albury-Wodonga and Ballarat.
"It is what it is and we'll just try and deal with that, but it was very unexpected."
Once the gauntlet of a triple-header is dealt with, the Torns' home stand will be against the Ringwood Hawks and the Nunawading Spectres.
"A home court is advantage is real, and certainly with our crowd it's significant," Veale said.
"It's also important to the club ... we've just got to make the most of it and prepare as best we can.
"We've got Waverley next week, we've had three weeks to prepare but we'll revisit that this weekend.
"Those three [road] games will be critical though as we try to stay in the top four."
Tornadoes schedule:
- Vs Waverley, August 7 - 6.30pm
- At Knox, August 13 - 6.30pm
- At Albury-Wodonga, August 14 - 6pm
- At Ballarat, August 15 - 1pm
- Vs Ringwood, August 21, 6.30pm
- Vs Nunawading, August 28 - 6.30pm
The schedule change erases a round 15 rematch between the Torns and the ladder-topping Frankston Blues, meaning the Torns will need to wait until finals for revenge.
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Harry Murtough
Born and raised in Launceston. BA of journalism from Monash University. Sports reporter covering basketball, netball and cricket.
Born and raised in Launceston. BA of journalism from Monash University. Sports reporter covering basketball, netball and cricket.
